Published online Dec 28, 2015. doi: 10.4329/wjr.v7.i12.459
Peer-review started: May 25, 2015
First decision: August 3, 2015
Revised: October 23, 2015
Accepted: November 13, 2015
Article in press: November 17, 2015
Published online: December 28, 2015
Processing time: 218 Days and 6.2 Hours
The tracheobronchial tree is a musculo-cartilagenous framework which acts as a conduit to aerate the lungs and consequently the entire body. A large spectrum of pathological conditions can involve the trachea and bronchial airways. These may be congenital anomalies, infections, post-intubation airway injuries, foreign body aspiration or neoplasms involving the airway. Appropriate management of airway disease requires an early and accurate diagnosis. In this pictorial essay review, we will comprehensively describe the various airway pathologies and their imaging findings by multi-detector computed tomography.
Core tip: There is a wide range of lesions affecting the airway and patients with airway pathology usually present late during the course of disease. Multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) has become the mainstay investigation modality as it provides detailed information about the airway and its surrounding structures with high spatial resolution. Therefore it is prudent to know the various pathology affecting airway and its appearance on MDCT.